Apparatus for treating elaterite.



A. MAXWELL.

T I I 1 9 Patented Mar. 12, 1918 2- MAXWELL, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOB TO U. S. ELATERITE PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, A CORPOBATIQN.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING ELATERITE.

Specification of Letters IPatent.

Patented Mar. 12, 391%.

Application filed September 5, 1916. Serial No. 118,582.

To all wkomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, ARCHIBALD MAXWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Elaterite, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatuses for treating elaterite, and has for its object to provide an apparatus by which elaterite may be rendered soluble and economically and rapidly dissolved for use as paint.

These objects I accomplish with the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar letters and numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures and as de- 1) scribed in the ecification forming a part of this application and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings in which I have shown a substantial embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is an elevation of one of the refining furnaces. Fig. 2 is an elevation of one of the detachable ates. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of one of t e grate cylinders. Fi 4 is a plan view of one of the grate hol ers and grates therein. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the dissolving tank and'agitating means.

' In the use of elaterite as a paint or coating for wood and iron one of the difficulties to overcome is to provide an economical and efiicient solvent for the crude elaterite, and I have found that when the hydrogen, oxygen and sulfur that are found in the crude elate'rite are partially burned out that the mass remaining is readily and may be economically dissolved and carried in solution by turpentine and the lighter hydrocarbon liquids, such as gasolene and kerosene, and that the melting point is much higher than the elaterite. In the manufacture of a carbon coating or paint from elaterite it is highly desirable that the solvent be cheap, and the time required to mix the elaterite with the carrying liquid be limited; these objects I accomplish with the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The furnace shown in Fig. l is one of the refiningunits used in the plant and by which the hydrogen, oxygen and sulfur are burned out; it consists of an elevated metal cylinder A, having a detachable frusto-conically shaped cap or partial cloopening in the wall of said cylinder for con- ..venience in igniting a charge in the furnace and for watching the progress of the treatment. A detachable grate holder 3 is provided, having openings cut therein to receive the gratesF, and having an outwardly turned flange 3 thereon; and is carried on and so orted by the upper edge of said cylinder A detachable grate F is provided for and carried in each of the openin cut in said grate holder E, and consists o a cylinder or and 4 having an outwardly turned flange 5 on its upper edge and an inwardly turned flange 6 on its lower edge and a basket shaped wire mesh 7 forming its bottom. A receiving tank C is provided, below the said grates to catch the refined elaterite as it falls from said grates. A number of said furnaces may be operated and attended by one person and each of said furnaces, therefore,-

is herein termed a unit. To complete the treatment, a diSSOlViDg tank G is provided, having a perforated cover 8 thereon, and a steam or heat chest 9 forming the bottom therein. An ingress and an egress pipe leading to and from said steam chest 9 is shown at 10 by which heat may be supplied under The operation of my apparatus is as fol lows a The crude elaterite as it comes fromthe mine in lumps from the size of marbles or pebbles to chunks weighing two or three pounds, is placed in the detachable grates f1; and they in turn are placed in the openings in said grate holder E, which on account of the heat radiating from the said said cylinder with the flange 3 resting on the upper edge of said cylinder. The cap B is,

then lowered or secured as a artial cover for the cylinder and the elaterlte is ignited by means of a ighted torch which may be applied through said door 2 or from below said cylinder as desired. As the flame of the lighted'elaterite spreads over the surface the sulfur, hydrogen and oxygen will be consumed with a small per cent. of the elaterite. The greater portion of the elaterite will melt and drip through the grates in the form of drops and be caught in the receiving tank C. Some of said drops may be blazing when detached from the melting mass in the grate baskets, but the flame w1ll burn itself out,

'- usually, .by the time the carbon particle reaches the said tank 0.

.ket, shaped caught in the tank 0 will solidify when allowed to cool and is then crushed and ground into particles resembling sand.

I thus provide an economical and eflicient apparatus for treating elaterite to form a. 25 carbon coating or paint and claim 2-- An apparatus for treating elaterite consisting of a cylindrically shaped furnace; a frusto-conically shaped cover therefor; a grate holder supported in said furnace; basgrates carried in said holder; and a receiving tank-below said grates;

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of a witness.

ARCHIBALD MAXWELL.

Witness SIAM RANEY,

erefined elaterite 20 i 

